Jim Popp has stepped down as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes.

Popp, who will remain on as the team’s general manager, made the decision after consulting with Als owner Bob Wetenhall over the team’s bye week.

Jacques Chapdelaine will replace Popp the rest of the season on an interim basis.

Chapdelaine joined the Alouettes this off-season as the team's wide receivers coach and special assistant to the offensive coordinator.

The Alouettes are currently last in the East Division with a 3-9 record, most recently falling to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20-17 last Friday. Popp was given a game ball by assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Kavis Reed after the loss, for coaching through a difficult family matter.

Popp and the Alouettes have gone through a difficult season, with the team generating headlines for the wrong reasons. In-fighting between quarterback Rakeem Cato and receiver Duron Carter, as well as Carter’s infamous bump of Ottawa Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell, have dominated the CFL news cycle in Montreal this season.

Popp is in his fourth stint as head coach of the Alouettes. He returned to the bench midway through last season as after Tom Higgins was fired, and led the team to a 3-7 record down the stretch.

Popp was also head coach in 2013, taking over for a fired Dan Hawkins; 2006-07, taking over for Don Matthews, who stepped down for health reasons; and 2001, taking over for a fired Rod Rust. Popp has a 22-36 career record as coach and led the Als to the Grey Cup after taking over for Matthews in ’06.

His record as GM is much more sterling. Popp has been GM of the team since 1994, prior to their move to Montreal when they were the Baltimore Stallions, and led them to four Grey Cup championships (one with the Stallions, three with the Alouettes).

The team has struggled to find a consistent level of success since star QB Anthony Calvillo retired after the 2013 season, burning through a number of starting QBs in hopes of replacing Calvillo and plodding to a 18-30 record in that time.